Algorithm improvement and validation of National Institute for Environmental Studies ozone differential absorption lidar at the Tsukuba Network for Detection of Stratospheric Change complementary station

Recently, a data processing and retrieval algorithm (version 2) for ozone, aerosol, and temperature lidar measurements was developed for an ozone lidar system at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) in Tsukuba (36 degrees N,140 degrees E), Japan. A method for obtaining the aerosol boundary altitude and the aerosol extinction-to-backscatter ratio in the version 2 algorithm enables a more accurate determination of the vertical profiles of aerosols and a more accurate correction of the systematic errors caused by aerosols in the vertical profile of ozone. Improvements in signal processing are incorporated for the correction of systematic errors such as the signal-induced noise and the dead-time effect. The mean vertical ozone profiles of the NIES ozone lidar were compared with those of the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II); they agreed well within a 5% relative difference in the 20-40 km altitude range and within 10% up to 45 km. The long-term variations in the NIES ozone lidar also showed good coincidence with the ozonesonde and SAGE II at 20, 25, 30, and 35 km. The temperatures retrieved from the NIES ozone lidar and those given by the National Center for Environmental Prediction agreed within 7 K in the 35-50 km range.     

Fabrication of conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) thin films by ultrasonic spray-assisted mist deposition method

Transparent conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) thin films were fabricated by a vapor-deposition technique, ultrasonic spray-assisted mist deposition method. The thickness was well controlled from 40 to 600 nm, keeping reasonable conductivity of 300-450 S/cm. The films with thickness less than 180 nm have high (> 80%) transmission over a wide (270-800 nm) spectral region. In addition, formation of ring-dot electrode pattern with a hard-mask was demonstrated, achieving lithography-less patterning. The results encourage that this deposition method is developed as an actual process technology of transparent electrodes in devices.     

Synthesis of a lithium-encapsulated fullerenol and the effect of the internal lithium cation on its aggregation behavior

A lithium-encapsulated fullerenol Li@C₆₀(OH)₁₈, as an example of a polar solvent-soluble endohedral fullerene derivative, has been synthesized and fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and the particle size was determined using the induced grating (IG) method, and scanning probe microscopy. The encapsulated Li⁺ was clearly detected by ⁷Li NMR at very high field in the range −15 to −19 ppm, an intermediate lithium-encapsulated fullerenol was detected by MALDI-TOF-MS, and the molar ratio of lithium-encapsulated fullerenol to empty fullerenol was quantitatively determined to be 12:88 by ICP-AES. The solid-state ESR and particle size measurements using the IG method showed the characteristic anionic behavior with no external counter cations, in what can be called a “cation-encapsulated anion nanoparticle”, revealing the drastic differences between its properties and those of empty C₆₀(OH)₁₆.      

Carbon-supported growth of cross-linked platinum nanowires by surfactant templating and their elecrochemical characterization

Platinum/carbon (Pt/C) composite materials were prepared by the hydrazine reduction of H2PtCl6 confined to a mixed surfactant lytropic liquid crystal (LC)/C mixture with varying amounts of water. The reaction at relatively low water contents successfully yielded cross-linked Pt nanowires with wire-widths of 2-5 nm. The novel Pt nanostructure is believed to be from poorly hydrated hexagonal domains formed together with layered domains by the phase separation of the precursory LC mixture in the presence of carbon. Electrochemical measurements using cyclic volutammetry and membrane electrode assemblies revealed that the cross-linked nanowired Pt/C composite exhibits fairly high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction, as well as a high performance as the cathode material for polymer electrolyte fuel cells.     

Effect of sweep gas species on tritium release behavior from lithium titanate packed bed during 14 MeV neutron irradiation

In a fusion reactor, the prediction of tritium release behavior from breeder blanket is important to design the tritium recovery system, but the amount of tritium generated is necessary information to do that. Hence, tritium generation and recovery studies on lithium ceramics packed bed have been started by using fusion neutron source (FNS) in Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Lithium titanate (Li₂TiO₃) was selected as tritium breeding material, and its packed bed was enclosed by the beryllium blocks, and was kept at certain temperature during fusion neutron irradiation. During irradiation, the packed bed was purged with the sweep gas continuously, and tritium released was trapped in each gas absorber selectively by chemical form. In this work, the effect of sweep gas species on tritium release behavior was investigated. In the case of sweep by helium with 1% of hydrogen, tritium in water form was released sensitively corresponding to the irradiation. This is due to existence of the water vapor in the sweep gas. On the other hand, in the case of sweep by helium without water vapor, tritium in gaseous form was released first, and release of tritium in water form was delayed from gaseous tritium and was gradually increased.     

Hydrogen isotope permeation from cooling water through various metal piping

In order to investigate the behavior of hydrogen isotope on the water–metal boundary, deuterium permeation experiments from heavy water vessel through various metal piping, such as pure iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), stainless steel (SS304), and pure iron with 10 μm gold plating, were performed at 573 K and at 15 MPa. During the experiment, surfaces of metal piping except gold plating one were oxidized at the heavy water boundary and then deuterium would generate by the oxidation reactions. This deuterium could be detected by mass spectrometer, which monitored the inside gases of the piping under continuous evacuation. The result showed clearly that the deuterium permeated through Fe, Ni, and SS304 piping was detected as mainly deuterium gas (D₂) under continuous evacuation, though that through gold plating one could not be detected effectively. The D₂ permeation rate through Fe, Ni, and SS304 piping reached equilibrium conditions with oxide generation at D₂O–metal boundary, although concluding the transfer mechanism will require further testing and modeling activities.     

Compatibility of erbium oxide coating with liquid lithium–lead alloy and corrosion protection effect of iron layer

Li–Pb compatibility of Er₂O₃ and Er₂O₃-Fe two-layer coatings has been explored for an understanding of corrosion behaviors and effects of the protection layer. The coatings were peeled off after static Li–Pb immersion test at 600 °C due to the degradation of adhesion between the coating–substrate interface. A loss of Er and then subsequent corrosion of Er₂O₃ were shown after immersion at 500 °C for 500 and 1505 h. However, the outer Fe layer played a role to decrease corrosion rate of the coatings by comparing with the results of Er₂O₃ single layer coatings. Deuterium permeation measurements after corrosion tests at 500 °C showed that the Er₂O₃ coatings kept permeation reduction factors of 10²–10³ after 500 h immersion, but seriously degraded after 1505 h immersion. Corrosion mechanisms suggest that corrosion protection properties will be modified by an optimization of the outer Fe layer and a control of oxygen concentration in Li–Pb.     

Ingestion of gelatinized potato starch containing a high level of phosphorus decreases serum and liver lipids in rats

Potato starch is known to have a higher concentration of phosphate than other starches. The presence of phosphate groups in amylopectin results in resistance to digestion by amylase. Therefore, there is a possibility that potato starch is slowly digested, inducing a physiological effect similar to that of resistant starch and indigestible oligosaccharides. The amount of phosphate group in starch differs with potato cultivar. In the present study, we investigated the effects of gelatinized potato starch containing a high level of phosphorus on lipid metabolism in rats. For this purpose, we determined lipid levels in the serum and liver in rats fed two kinds of gelatinized potato starches with different phosphorus contents. Four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 60% sucrose diet (control) or one of three diets containing cornstarch (CS), Benimaru (BM) potato starch or Hokkaikogane (HK) potato starch. Fat pad weight was slightly decreased in the HK diet group compared with that in the other groups. Free fatty acids in serum were significantly lowered by dietary HK starch compared with control, and serum triglyceride in rats fed the HK diet was also decreased. In the BM and HK diet groups, triglyceride levels in the liver were decreased compared with that in the control and CS groups. As for hepatic total cholesterol level, there were no significant differences among three starch diet groups. Fecal bile acid excretion was greater in the two potato starch groups than in the control group. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in cecal short-chain fatty acid content or pH. Thus, we conclude that dietary gelatinized potato starch reduces free fatty acid and triglyceride in serum and hepatic triglyceride, but does not affect cecal fermentation.     

Non‐Enzymatic Geometry‐Selective Acylation of Tri‐ and Tetrasubstituted α,α′‐Alkenediols

A highly geometry‐selective organocatalytic acylation of tri‐ and tetra‐substituted 2‐alkylidene‐1,3‐propanediols has been developed. The highly E‐selective acylation of various tetrasubstituted 2‐alkylidene‐1,3‐propanediols was achieved in 96 to >99% selectivity for the first time by a non‐enzymatic protocol.     

Use of support vector regression and numerically predicted cloudiness to forecast power output of a photovoltaic power plant in Kitakyushu,Japan

The development of a methodology to forecast accurately the power produced by photovoltaic systems can be an important tool for the dissemination and integration of such systems on the public electricity grids. Thus, the objective of this study was to forecast the power production of a 1‐MW photovoltaic power plant in Kitakyushu, Japan, using a new methodology based on support vector machines and on the use of several numerically predicted weather variables, including cloudiness. Hourly forecasts of the power produced for 1 year were carried out. Moreover, the effect of the use of numerically predicted cloudiness on the quality of the forecasts was also investigated. The forecasts of power production obtained with the proposed methodology had a root mean square error of 0.0948 MW h and a mean absolute error of 0.058 MW h. It was also found that the forecast and measured values of power production had a good level of correlation varying from 0.8 to 0.88 according to the season of the year. Finally, the use of numerically predicted cloudiness had an important role in the accuracy of the forecasts, and when cloudiness was not used, the root mean square error of the forecasts increased more than 32%, and the mean absolute error increased more than 42%. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.